E3 Coliseum: Grim Fandango featuring Jack Black

20 years ago Tim Schafer’s Grim Fandango released and became an instant classic of the adventure genre. At E3, the cast reunites for a one-night-only live reading of select scenes, live music from composer Peter McConnell, and very special guest Jack Black.
Alan Blumenfeld, Actor
Tony Plana, Actor
Jim Ward, Actor
Tim Schafer, President - Double Fine Productions
Maria Canals-Barrera, Actor
Patrick Dollaghan, Actor
Jack Black, Actor
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[@Her_Imperious_Condescension]

This isn’t complete without a balloon shaped like Robert Frost

[@evcotter08]

The Atomic Cherry look out you pigeons it’s Robert Frost!

[@Kiwi-cc7ib]

Hopefully it’s not on fire

[@lachlankerr5448]

That's not on fire

[@MrApotator]

i think you mean a balloon shaped like a dead worm

[@BeesUSA]

@@lachlankerr5448 that doesn't seem like a good use of this special ceremonial bread.

[@leodale7236]

There'll be another Grim Fandango reunion after they all die

[@megatrons5187]

On the number 9

[@ihatebeingalivetoavariable7865]

Leo Dale will jack be there?

[@jpHasABadHandle]

I know Jack Black was joking about it, but Grim Fandango could easily work as a play.

[@MarkQuick0411]

Please that needs to be a thing

[@lilacroft9308]

I'm working on it. Would need permission to publish though. My first ever play.

[@RED01SEA]

@@lilacroft9308 dude i dont think you can get permission lucas films/arts in now a disney property , even the remaster of the game was a licenced project

[@lilacroft9308]

@@RED01SEA *sad face*

[@RED01SEA]

@@lilacroft9308 i wish i was wrong but its true , even the monkey island creator cant get his game back , he even proposed to buy it back we they just wont sell it , disney killed every thing star wars and every thing good that lucas films/arts ever did .

[@Arveja]

We may have years, we may have hours, but sooner or later, we push up flowers.

[@CrossfacePanda]

Martin Asteasuain I was so hoping Jack would get to play Membrillo and do that line. Easily one of my favourite quotes from the game, and from video games in general.

[@DriveupLife22]

Meche and Manny sound exactly the same, down to each syllable, twenty years later. Amazing!

[@Akrafes]

"I'm your friend. Manny Calavera." Yeap, that still gets me.

[@Number-6]

Run, you pigeons! It's Robert Frost!

[@lostcrusader8053]

Before Coco, this was the game that introduced me to the culture of the Day of the Dead.

[@Elburion]

I'll just take a little more bread, to honor the dead. *Repeats 5 times

[@tomahawkANDscopZ]

damn you can tell jack really must love this game, he got every character he did spot on.

[@nfwolfaardt]

Grim Fandango, I like to keep it close to where my heart used to be.

[@openking]

I was really hoping to hear Jack Black sing "this little Light of Mine"

[@Peter-Luior]

Or rusty anchor

[@mevb]

@@Peter-Luior Alan Blummenfield did just here as Glottis.

[@jimmyeve6821]

Let it shine let it shine let it shine!

[@MGSVxBreakpoint]

I had a moment when that little guy entered the tunnel to the 9th Underworld. It really was *death. The end*.

[@arodin]

This is the best thing to come out of E3 this year.

[@arodin]

I typed that about half way through. Now that I finished, I think this is the best thing to come out of any E3.

[@GamerGamer-ok6wu]

@@arodindo you still think so, 5 years later?

[@viejitaloca2810]

@@GamerGamer-ok6wu considering E3 doesnt exist anymore, yes

[@GamerGamer-ok6wu]

@@viejitaloca2810 What are you talking about lol, I got a lifetime pass to E3 last convention, payed like 1k for it. There's gonna be another man.

[@Maniac536]

Alan’s singing of rusty anchor was awesome. Loved him in many of his roles in film and television

[@Mondoblasto0]

38:48 Fine tuning, lol. 40:07 Oh, my boat's got a rusty anchor. Rusty as she can be. Every port I go, I drop her, But she always comes back to me! Oh Rusty Anchor, Goin' down, down, down. Oh Rusty Anchor, Guess I gonna hang around. Now, I love that rusty anchor. But man, she don't love me. And this mornin' I woke to find us both A-driftin' out to sea! And every chance I get, I thank her For never leavin' me. Well, my bones are carved up driftwood, But she won't never set them free! Oh Rusty Anchor, Goin' down, down, down. Oh Rusty Anchor, Guess I gonna hang around!

[@stocchinet]

Jack was barely containing himself during that part

[@wertsmith69]

I thought he was created just to drive

[@wertsmith69]

Awesome but am disappointed amongst some other little production value missing, that no request was made... Oooh! a request! Hmmmm... Rusty anchor... Rusty anchor. Yeah I... I think I know that one! if I remember right... it goes a little something.... like this: [cue Peter with the iphone playback or preferably a pianist, given it's one of the simplest in the soundtrack!]

[@Arveja]

Glottis voice is awesome!

[@TheloniusFabdul]

Thank you so much for making this happen! I have such fond memories of playing this game with my dad when I was a kid. Sadly, he passed away last month, but I know he would have absolutely loved seeing this.

[@junpeiiori4720]

May your dad rest in peace

[@ReverendTed]

Hopefully he got his ticket on the #9.

[@KimStennabbCaesar]

My condolences.

[@MintyDragonVidz]

Thelonius Fabdul He’s finally chillin with Manny!

[@Kay12ization]

I hope to play this game with my kids, the circle of life continues

[@JakBaronKing]

I REALLY want Grim Fandango to be an animated series. I think they can summarize the entire story in 10 episodes.

[@echoness_]

Just finished playing Grim Fandango a few days ago, this is a super awesome surprise.

[@echoness_]

Ohhhh, the Rusty Anchor is sooooo great.

[@KiwiOuiOui22]

Oh I finished my playthough yesterday.

[@RoballTV]

First game to ever get me emotional, and this has hit me all over again XD

[@sparkydarksider1123]

I got it for the ps4 a few months ago for £3.35! I'd love for a sequel to be done for this. 'domino hurley the sweatiest man in the office' lol

[@TheSuperCommentGuy]

Same, I finished it for the first time today and then found this!

[@ReverendTed]

Thanks, KZbin, for letting me know this happened. I was surprised at how good a fit Jack was for Celso, and his rendition of "Grim Fandango"...ha! Tony Plana will always be Manny to me, but a close second he's "a plethora of gifts" Jefe in Three Amigos. Always loved the lines "It says, 'I'M AT THE JUNKYARD, WOOWOOWOO!" and "Run, you pigeons - it's Robert Frost!" I've played the game so many times it's strange to hear the lines read any differently.

[@kingzach74]

I own several copies of this game. Now after watching this, I have one more reason to buy a Nintendo Switch. I couldn't imagine being able to play Grim Fandango anywhere and everywhere. It is hands down my favorite game of all time.

[@DecafToaster740]

I caught this video through a Kotaku article, made it to the 45 minute mark in the video, and decided to actually play through the game because the voice acting and plot had me hooked! I played all the way through to the end because I didn't want to get distracted by other games and never end up finishing. As soon as I did, I came back to watch the last bit that I stopped at and to leave a comment. Coming back after playing through the game with director commentary on, I realize now that the Narrator is Tim Schafer, the project leader (among other roles) of Grim Fandango, who later on founded Double Fine Productions, and came back around to "remaster" the very same game! I looked up the game in my orders history out of curiosity. It had been sitting in my library since January 13th, 2015! Three years and I hadn't even touched it. I cannot believe it took me this long to get around to playing it, but what a ride! The voice acting was great, the environments were wonderful, and the music was a fantastic fit in the game. I'm glad that the idea of a live table reading came through, because I had a good time playing that game.

[@DameAndThatGame]

22 years, 22 long years and I'm still here wanting more, A Grim 2, a spin-off of some kind, but the whole day of the dead theme had me hooked, and the characters, the music, the voice acting, the puzzles my god, the fake ticket stub!!! This game was MY childhood. Grim Fandango, Broken Sword, Monkey island, Pioneers of the point and click genre, and Grim was the last, someone needs to fill this spot.

[@pintavodki]

So great. I'm just sad they didn't do the "Mannyyyyyyy! You prooooomiiiiiiised!" line.

[@stroaters]

Jack black sounds exactly like the original Celso! And Tony plana is absolutely amazing!

[@dougthemoleman]

Oh my god, Peter, wah-wah on an electric violin? That's fantastic! :D

[@Nath5000]

I wish I could upvote this more than once.

[@Shazbut-he3ne]

I wish I could upvote your comment more than once

[@stefanosk27]

You can, just make sure you upvote odd times

[@samwise1982]

Wow. Tony's performance is like silk.

[@DeanLawrence_ftw]

well that was rather special. so wonderful to see that people still care about this after so long.

[@Vredesfull]

Jim ward as Hector is an actual treasure.

Being a Hungarian and discovering that Toto speaks my mother language (also cursing like a taxi driver) was one of the best easter eggs of my whole gaming "career."

[@somewhatrespectable1081]

35:57 - Clint absolutely LOSING IT in the background

[@ceeril]

This is so sad and amazing at the same time.

[@jeshkam]

Why sad?

[@ryanzoom2110]

Even though I'm only 13, I grew up on a Win. 98 Dell, and the one thing I was always playing was Grim Fandango. Still my favorite game of all time, this brought a tear to my eye. It's beautiful to see everyone reunited like this, god bless you all.

[@kingzach74]

I agree. Hands down the best game ever made. Nothing can beat Tony Plana's amazing performance as Manuel Calavera.

[@bastien-]

I only recently got around to playing out for the first time, and it's Tony Plana's voice acting that sold me on the game. Such a fantastic job.

[@lamech006]

I think I'm going to cry and I'm only at 1:24 ... Thank you. Wow.

[@Stitico1269]

Same place here.

[@rad6666]

This should have way more views, Grim Fandango is a masterpiece, this takes me back, even though I've just also finished the remaster.

[@Zuhs]

just want to comment and leave my respects to this blessed corner of the internet. Grim Fandango is my favourite game ever and really hit me emotionally when I first played it as a teenager. I loved this and it brought me back to those years. So bittersweet! The tears were welling up. Time does go by. I need to play the remastered version after all these years.

[@npthedarkside27]

I'm sorry, is that a violin going through a wah? God it sounds amazing.

[@MegawackyMax]

It's a WAH-iolin.

[@KimStennabbCaesar]

Electronic violin, as in pickups/mic on an acoustic one, through a wah, yes. Sounds pretty cool indeed. Combos like that will pop up much more the next few years I believe.

[@Dr170]

I don't know whether it says more about the slick mediocrity of the E3 lineup in general, or the superlativity of Grim (or both) that this was easily the best thing at the show this year.

[@transfo47]

Dr170 I know, right? I was kinda hesitant before watching this video, but once I got into it it was amazing. Truly a great performance, music and voice actors. Everything is just so good. Jack Black did really well actually and didn't make it cringey like I thought he would.

[@kingzach74]

Definitely not the same as having the original actors for all the characters. I really wished they would have been able to have Rachel Reenstra the voice of Eva there as well. That being said I was surprised at how good of a job Jack Black did. His Celso was pretty spot on. He wasn't as good as the originals, but he held his own pretty well.

[@webbox100]

Patrick Dollaghan's delivery is so damn smooth!

[@Shazbut-he3ne]

This game keeps on giving. Played again recently and before then hadn't pressed the PICK UP command on the giant cat litter tray in Rubacava in Year 2. Manny's reaction is great. Try it if you haven't

[@lv7312]

I replay the game every now and then and each time I discover lines I've never heard before

[@sergeilikhomanov8638]

Still one of the best acting and cast in games ever

[@magnet8185]

It's like their voices improved through out the years. Just played this game, and honestly the voices really do sound better now.

[@DethronerX]

Love the texture in the voices, all of them and the tone, you could close your eyes and see the characters, so easy

[@satellite964]

Grim Fandango is a masterpiece, so glad to see this.

[@milnky]

The glory days of point and click adventures. Fantastic!

[@itsaguinness]

That was awesome! Now I’m going to ask for more! I needed to hear glottis drunk 😵 “but they can’t get into the high rollers lounge now can they!!!” 🍷🍷🍷 “Get that cat !” “This is it! “ “Go kitty 🐱!”

[@emmabryant1754]

I thought it was "Get that mouse!"...

[@emmabryant1754]

Omg Glottis drunk... I could've watched him all day.... :) especially when he takes it out on the waiter Raoul lol

[@Dude902]

I just completed Grim Fandango Remastered so I could watch this. I loved it. Please fund Grim Fandango 2. (And give Jack a role)

[@zenlee1109]

This is so amazing. Peter McConnells music is iconic, and the way he arranged it live on violin instead of horns, amazing

[@slimb0b]

Also why is this not all over the web! This is the only video I can find of it! Well done guys!

[@kald0rei]

it's on facebook as well

[@CissyBrazil]

I got chills as Tony Plana came out on stage. His playing Manny was fantastic! This has always been my all-time favorite game ever. And I mean ever! I am going to be downloading from Steam the remastered version. So I can play again. This game cracked me up a lot and the actors are cracking me up today as I watched this in 2023. Tony Plana, Alan Blumfeld, and “Hector” were the best in this! I know I’m late to the party as this is 2023, but I’m so glad I came across this!

[@mnih00]

I have tears in my eyes for the joy of watching this. Jack Black looks like he's having so much fun

[@stofosaurus]

I teared up watching this. So amazing. So much talent. And Peter and the other composers playing the lo-fi music from the game. Just brilliant and amazing. I wish I could've been there. I've been playing Grim Fandango once a year since it came out and I own it on multiple platforms. Definitely my favourite game of all time.

[@shaokhan4421]

:). Amazing game

[@kareemismail3744]

Glad that the fandom for this game is still going strong. Thanks for everyone who made this happen!

[@kiwikoopa6806]

This is absolutely incredible. This is my fav Double Fine game. It has some of the best voice acting IMO.

[@LaBalduta]

Kiwi Koopa *LucasArt

[@kienesel7]

I had a giant smile on the entire way through.

[@lolzwutify]

This is one of the most emotional reunions I have seen! Grim Fandango is a masterpiece and I thank everyone who worked on it.

[@reallygoodsoil]

I love this. Grim Fandango fan for life

[@goblinounours]

I remember reading that the guy who did the french voice for Manny Calavera (Mario Santini) died in 2001, and I kinda mixed things up in my head and thought Tony Plana was dead too. Hearing him doing these lines, god, that's so awesome. Brings back so much good memories.

[@vol10O000]

Just listening to them transports me back

[@pedroinogueiras]

This is simply amazing, thank you.

[@greob]

Such great comedians. And Peter McConnell always makes the best soundtracks.

[@evgeniptolemy5570]

Oh. My. Word...Meche es muy Bonita.

[@micahbrae]

I almost cried watching this! I would have flown to America for this if I had have known!! So beautiful and awesome

[@DarioEMeloD]

This is amazing

[@wallstaple9125]

They’ve all still got it, this was wonderful

[@seth009eg]

Incredible. So great watching these guys perform together. Makes me want to play that game again

[@JoeSlap]

Thanks for letting this happen, it was amazing!

[@j1d2h3o415]

It deserves to be watched each second. Thank you for uploading

[@iokaravas]

This gave me such a smile listening to, thank you all. Keep up the good work!

[@Undead2k]

This was honestly amazing. Some parts gave me chills. Thank you for making this happen!

[@magnet8185]

The voice acting is awesome. What a perfect cast.

[@jasmin986]

Incredible, beautiful, best voice actors and best game ever. Thank you.

[@kattwade]

This was so brilliant. Brings back a lot of memories.

[@positiwe]

I'm so happy this happened. Thank you!

[@M3n747]

This is beautiful. Thanks a lot to everyone involved!

[@DogandWolfGaming]

This is incredible. Thank you all so much for doing this.

[@murometz626]

played the game in my teens , brought back so much fond memories. thank you for doing this. hope it will be made into a movie. cheers from singapore

[@SoundsofDecay]

Absolutely wonderful, they've all still got it. 19 people spent four years with nothing to read but that damn mug.

[@mikeva3975]

Oh my god, this is one of the best things on KZbin. I love this game and these actors so much. The music, too. It almost steals the show.

[@danielschmid8530]

What an homage to this masterpiece that is Grim Fandango. It makes me so happy that this happened. Thanks to everyone involved! This was just amazing!

[@DethronerX]

Thank you for this event and sharing it, wow, so beautiful to see and hear everyone in character, just beautiful!

[@sindobrandnew]

Their acting is just great and hiliarious. 😆

[@moshiwow]

I've played this game every year since 1999 ....I LOVE THIS GAME I LOVE THIS GAME I LOVEEEEE THIS GAMEEEEEE

[@TheBroz]

Grim is one of my favourite games of all time, it’s something very special to me. I’m amazed I’ve never seen this before but it’s making me so happy. Thank you to everyone involved in making this happen.

[@the_real_vdegenne]

so happy to see my favorite adventure game after CMI still being celebrated ! what a masterpiece !

[@JohnDoe-uu2zs]

Finally finished this after decades!! this is an awesome way of celebrating

[@parab0l]

THIS IS PURE GOLD

[@motionpablo]

This is amazing! Such great fun!

[@TGabrielTPOI]

Thank you Tim and the whole team for making this happen. Best game ever made

[@sevh7]

Magic, thanks Tim and doble fine team!

[@MrBossley]

I can’t imagine how happy Tim S. must have been. I mean, I had a smile from ear to ear while watching it.

[@MrJohnnyWalker2001]

This was SO GOOD!

[@lucasureta4094]

This is beautiful, so glad they made it :')

[@stroaters]

Great!!! Had so much fun watching this!

[@quistisobel8832]

Awesome, have not even played this game, but now I will, such great voice actors!

[@ZEFISH888]

Amazing! Would've loved to have seen this live.

[@Zedzikk]

I bought Grim Fandango remastered two weeks ago, went through it quickly and instantly fall in love by everything in this adventure game. I was so amazed by this video I clapped along with the audience :D

[@andrewm8106]

This was awesome! Wish I could have been there.

[@Nightswipe1]

This goes into my like-list and it stays there forever. Thanks everyone for making this happen :)

[@slimb0b]

This is BRILLIANT!! So hyped for this on switch too! This made my e3!!

[@interfusor]

This is the best! I love how method Jim Ward is.

[@GamingGems]

So wonderful that they did this :) and with Jack Black as well!? Perfect :)